Portable telephone ID code transfer system

ABSTRACT

A wireless telephone communication system 10 is provided in which a portable unit 12 communicates with a base unit 11 over a wireless (radio) communication link 15. Access to a telephone network 15b by the portable unit 12, via the base unit 11, is permitted when the base and portable units have corresponding ID codes stored therein. The base ID code is hardwired into the base unit 11, and the portable unit 12 learns its ID code from the base unit in response to mechanically coupling the base and portable units together via plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45. The base and portable units each have associated microprocessors 22 and 40 which implement the transfer of an ID code to the portable unit from the base unit via conductors (24&#39;-42&#39;) which are part of the plug and socket assemblies. The plug and socket assemblies, when mated, also provide a connection between a battery charging supply circuit 25 in the base and a battery 46 in the portable. Reset circuits 29 and 50 are provided in the base and portable units and control the resetting of the microprocessors 22 and 40.

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 558,738, filed Dec. 5,1983.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of providing aportable communication unit with a predetermined ID (identification)code to enable it to communicate with a base communication unit having acorresponding ID code. Examples of such apparatus comprise portabletelephone systems, garage door openers and remote computer terminalswhich communicate with a master computer. In all of these situationsdesired communication between portable and base units is initiated onlywhen correspondence exists between portable and base ID codes which arestored within the portable and base units, respectively.

In prior communications systems such as those mentioned above, typicallythe base and portable units are hardwire programed with their specificID codes to enable them, for security purposes, to effectivelycommunicate only with apparatus having the proper corresponding ID code.This hardwire programing can comprise either inserting a predeterminedcode plug in each unit, selectively making or breaking electricalconnections within the base or portable unit, or providing the base andportable units with fixed electrical connections defining the desired IDcode or codes. These prior systems generally result in requiring thepairing of the base and portable units once they have been coded, andthis may be undesirable in many instances since it would require thesale and/or shipment of corresponding sets of base and portable unitsrather than the sale or shipment of individual base and portable units.While in some prior systems it is possible for the end user to manuallyenter (program) ID codes into the base or portable units, typically thisstep is time consuming and undesirable from the standpoint of the enduse customer since it requires additional effort on his part. Also,typically only a relatively few codes can be manually selected by theend user, or else the cost of the manual programing apparatus or itscomplexity, and therefore its cost, must be greatly increased. If only afew codes are selectable by the end user, then the security of thecommunication system is jeopardized since others could accidentally orintentionally select the same codes.

Thus while prior systems have recognized that for security purposes itis desirable that the base and portable units only communicate with eachother when they contain corresponding ID codes, prior systems havegenerally either provided hardwired ID codes to the base and portableunits thereby necessitating the permanent pairing of the ID programedunits, or they have provided for manual programing of the ID code of thebase and/or portable unit thus requiring an undesirable manual operationfor the end user as well as possibly jeopardizing the system security byproviding only a relatively few codes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable IDcode system which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a portableID code transfer system in which the portable unit learns its associatedID code from the base communication unit thereby eliminating anyrequirement for manually coding the portable unit with an ID code tomatch the base unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided acommunication system comprising; at least one base unit having a housingand a predetermined associated base ID (identification) code storedtherein, and at least one portable unit having a housing separable fromsaid base unit housing and having an associated portable ID codestorable therein, the base and portable units capable of establishingdesired information communication therebetween on a communication linkin response to circuitry in at least one of the base and portable unitsdetermining that the base and portable ID codes have the propercorrespondence to one another, the portable unit including thereinlearning and storing means for learning said associated portable ID codefrom said base unit in response to there being provided a predeterminedconnection between said portable and base units, said portable unitlearning and storing means storing said learned portable ID code in saidportable unit.

More specifically, the present communication system deals with acommunication link, which preferably is a wireless link, which providesdesired communication between portable and base units havingcorresponding ID codes. In such a system, the portable unit preferablylearns its ID code from the base unit when the two units aremechanically coupled together. This insures security of the system sincethe only way that the portable unit is allowed to learn its ID code fromthe base unit is via a mechanical connection to the base unit. In thistype of system, portable units which have not been mechanicallyconnected to the base cannot learn the specific portable ID code toenable them to communicate with the base. The present inventioncontemplates either having the portable unit always learn a new portableID each time it is mechanically coupled to a base unit, or having theportable unit only learn a portable code in response to the initialconnection of the portable unit to a base unit. In this latter systemthe portable unit is prevented from learning and storing a new code ifthe portable unit, prior to its mechanical mating to the base, alreadyhas a proper ID code. Each of these types of systems allows the portableunit to be mated, at least initially, with any base unit to form acommunication system. Each of these systems results in the pairing ofbase and portable units by the end user merely coupling these unitstogether rather than by engaging in time consuming and complex coding ofa specific portable code into the portable unit.

Preferably, the mechanical connection which permits the base unit totransfer a proper portable ID code to the portable unit includes a plugand socket assembly, one portion of which is associated with each one ofthe base and portable units. Preferably the assembly provides theoperative connection between a battery charging apparatus in the baseunit and a battery in the portable unit which provides the operativepower to the portable unit. Thus the mechanical connection between thebase and portable units which results in code learning will utilizeexisting battery charging plug and socket connectors between the baseand portable units. Also preferably each of the base and portable unitsincludes a microprocessor for enabling the transmission, receipt andverification of ID codes and for determining when the portable and baseunits have corresponding ID codes so as to enable a desiredcommunication therebetween. It is contemplated that during theestablishment of this desired communication between the portable andbase units, the base unit will access apparatus coupled to the base orcontained therein which is not otherwise accessible. This apparatus cancomprise either confidential memory locations within the base unit or atelephone communication system accessible by the portable unit throughthe base unit only when proper ID correspondence between the base andportable units is established.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should bemade to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to thepresent invention comprising base and portable communication units;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the portable unitrepresenting the manner in which desired communications with the baseunit are realized;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the operation of the base unit which resultsin the realization of desired communications between the base andportable units;

FIGS. 4a and 4b comprise a flow chart representative of the sequentialsteps which occur in response to a mechanical connection between thebase and portable units whereby the portable unit learns its ID code;

FIG. 5 comprises a partial schematic diagram of the system of FIG. 1illustrating the construction of reset circuits in the portable and baseunits; and

FIG. 6 is a series of graphs illustrating the waveforms of signalsprovided by the communication system shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cordless (wireless) telephone communication system10 comprising a base communication unit 11 and a portable communicationunit 12 each having separate associated housings 13 and 14,respectively. The base communication unit 11 is located in a fixedlocation and is connected via standard telephone line connections 15a toa standard telephone system network 15b comprising various telephoneexchange circuits and other base communication units and/or standardtelephone receiving apparatus. In other words, the base communication 11is coupled, via the lines 15a, into a standard telephone system so as toselectively provide access to the telephone system under certainconditions.

The base communication unit 11 has stored therein an associated base ID(identification) code. This code is stored in the form of one or moreelectrical signals in a base ID memory location 16 present within thebase communication unit 11. A similar ID memory storage location 17 ispresent within the portable communication unit 12 and performs thefunction of storing a portable ID code, in the form of one or moreelectrical signals, which is associated with the portable communicationunit 12. Obviously the locations 16 and 17 can comprise computer storageregisters. At least when the housings of the base and portablecommunication units are separated from one another, and preferably evenwhen the housings are joined via plug and socket assemblies, these unitsare capable of establishing a desired information communicationtherebetween on a wireless radio communication link 15. This informationexchange on the communication link 15 occurs in response to circuitry inat least one of the base and portable communication units determiningthat the base and portable ID codes have the proper correspondence toone another.

Within the base communication unit 11 there is a duplex radiotransceiver 18 whose output is provided to an antenna 19, and similarlywithin the portable communication unit 12 there exists a duplex radiotransceiver 20 that provides outputs to an antenna 21 and a speaker 22.The base and portable radio transceivers 18 and 20 together with theirassociated antennas selectively establish the wireless communicationlink 15, and this occurs when the portable and base ID codes stored inthe memory locations 16 and 17 have the proper correspondence to oneanother. Essentially the establishment of the wireless communicationlink 15 will occur when circuitry within the base and portablecommunication units determines that the base communication unit 11 has abase ID code in location 16 that is compatible with the portable ID codestored in the memory location 17. This event signifies that the portableunit 12 is intended for communication with the base unit 11 and thattherefore proper communication between the portable and base unitsshould be initiated over the wireless communication link 15. The reasonfor requiring correspondence of the ID codes of the portable and base isfor security purposes such that only portable units having the proper IDcode in their memory location 17 can establish desired informationcommunication to the base unit 11 via the communication link 15.

The base communication unit 11 includes therein a base microprocessor(MPU) 22 which is connected to the radio transceiver 18 for controlthereof and also for analysis of the information received by the radiotransceiver 18. In addition, the base microprocessor 22 is directlycoupled to the base ID memory storage location 16 which may actuallyform part of the base microprocessor 22. The microprocessor 22 has areset terminal 23 wherein in response to a low signal level provided atthe terminal 23 the base microprocessor will interrupt its normalsequence of operations and execute a reset subroutine of instructions.The base microprocessor 22 has an ID output terminal 24 at which themicroprocessor will selectively provide a sequence of signals which willinclude an ID code that is to be transferred to the portablecommunication unit 12.

Within the housing 13 of the base communication unit 11 there exists acharging power supply circuit 25 which provides a positive chargingvoltage at a B+ terminal 26 and a ground voltage at at terminal 27. TheB+ terminal 26, the ground terminal 27 and the ID terminal 24 aredirectly connected to corresponding terminals designated by primenotation which are external to the housing 13 which form conductors in aplug assembly 28 of a plug and socket assembly. The plug assembly 28comprises extending electrical projections corresponding to theterminals 24', 26' and 27' which are mechanically fixed to the basecommunication unit housing 13. A reset circuit 29 is present within thebase unit 11 and is connected between the ID terminal 24 and the resetterminal 23. A grounding resistor 30 is connected between the IDterminal 24 and the ground terminal 24 so as to maintain the ID terminalat ground potential whenever the microprocessor 22 does not provide avoltage potential at the ID terminal 24 different from ground andwhenever the plug assembly 28 of the plug and socket assembly is notmated to its corresponding socket assembly.

The portable communication unit 12 includes therein a portablemicroprocessor 40 which is directly coupled to the duplex radiotransceiver 20 for providing control thereof and for identification ofinformation received by the transceiver 20. The microprocessor 40includes a reset terminal 41 and an ID input terminal 42. In response toa low voltage present at the reset terminal 41, the microprocessor 40will interrupt its normal sequence of execution of control statementsand implement a predetermined interrupt subroutine. The ID terminal 42of the microprocessor is used for providing ID code signals to themicroprocessor wherein these signals may result in the microprocessorstoring ID signals in the portable ID memory location 17 which isdirectly connected to the microprocessor 40. The ID terminal 42 in theportable communication unit is directly connected to a corresponding IDterminal designated 42' which together with a battery voltage terminal43' and a ground potential terminal 44' are external to the housing 14and comprise conductors of electrical socket receptacles that form partof a socket assembly 45 of the plug and socket assembly. The socketassembly 45 is rigidly attached to the portable housing 14 and mateswith the corresponding plug assembly 28 of the base unit 11.

The battery voltage terminal 43' is directly connected to a positivevoltage terminal 43 of a battery 46 within the portable communicationunit 12 while the ground terminal 44' is directly connected to anegative terminal 44 of the battery 46. The battery provides operativepower to both the portable microprocessor 40 and the duplex radiotransceiver 20 via connections 47 and 48 within the portablecommunication unit 12. The ID terminal 42 is connected through aresistor 49 to the positive battery terminal 43, and the ID terminal 42is connected through a reset circuit 50 to the reset terminal 41 of theportable microprocessor.

The operation of the base and portable communication units 11 and 12will now be discussed with respect to the information flow charts shownin FIGS. 2 through 4 which illustrate the normal operation of theseunits and their operation in response to the mechanical connection ofthe portable unit to base unit via the connecting of the plug and socketassemblies 28 and 45. It should be noted that FIGS. 2 and 3 illustratethe operation of typical portable-base communication systems requiringcode identification. FIG. 4 will illustrate how the present inventionprovides, upon the mechanical connection of the plug and socketassemblies, that the base microprocessor 22 will recognize theoccurrence of this event and, in response thereto, provide a resetsignal followed by a predetermined code at the base ID terminal 24 whichwill result in resetting the portable microprocessor 40 and reading intothe portable memory location 17 a desired portable ID code. After theportable ID memory location 17 has received a proper portable ID code,then full communication between the base and portable communicationunits will be possible via the communication link 15.

Refering now to FIG. 2, a normal portable channel scanning routine 100begins at an initalizing step 101. It is understood that the routine 100is executed when the portable unit 12 is attempting to find out if abase unit is trying to initiate communication with it via link 15. Ifthe portable unit is to initiate communication to a base unit thenroutine 100 is not executed and the portable unit first finds an openchannel on the communication link 15 and then transmits an ID code, if aproper ID code is located in memory location 17, on the open channel.Control then reenters the flow chart 100 prior to block 107. Since thismode of operation substantially corresponds to standard mobile telephoneoperation it is not illustrated by flow charts herein. Information flowfrom 101 passes to a summing terminal 101' and then on to a decisionblock 102 which determines if the portable ID code stored in theportable ID memory location 17 corresponds to a proper ID code whichmight enable the portable communication unit 12 to set up communicationswith a base communication unit. If the portable memory location 17 doesnot contain a proper stored ID code, then information flow proceeds backto the summing terminal 101' for subsequent reexecution of the decisionblock 102. If a proper ID code is stored in the portable memory location17, information flow proceeds to a terminal 103.

Essentially the decision block 102 corresponds to the portablemicroprocessor 40 reading out the electrical signals stored in theportable ID memory location 17 and determining if these signalscorrespond to any allowable code which might result in the portable unithaving a ID code stored in location 17 which is compatible with a baseID code. This step can be accomplished by the portable microprocessor 40performing a parity check on the code stored in the location 17 or bycomparing the stored code to insure that it falls within the numericallimits of the range of allowable ID code values which have been presetinto the portable microprocessor 40. The implementation of the decisionblock 102 can be routinely performed by well known microprocessornumerical comparison program steps, and can even be performed by digitalsignal comparators which compare various digital electrical signals. Thefunction of the decision block 102 is to insure that unless a properidentification code is located in the memory location 17, the portablecommunication unit 12 will not attempt to initiate communication withany base unit via the wireless communication link 15.

If a proper ID code is stored in the memory location 17, control passesfrom the terminal 103 to a process block 104 and then to a decisionblock 105 which results in activating the duplex radio transceiver 20,scanning communication link channels and investigating if thetransceiver has received any base ID code at the antenna 21 via thecommunication link 15. Thus the process block 104 corresponds to themicroprocessor 40 enabling the duplex radio transceiver 20 to receivesignals from a channel of the communication link 15 and block 105investigates if these received signals comprise a base ID code. Eachtime block 104 is entered a next sequential channel is scanned. It iscontemplated that the duplex radio transceiver 20, as well as the duplexradio transceiver 18 comprise 40 channel scanning radio transceiverswherein each of 40 channels is scanned sequentially until a signal isreceived on that channel. Of course single channel operation is alsopossible for the transceivers 18 and 20. Once a signal is received onthe channel being scanned by the transceiver 20, control passes from 105to a process block 106 which results in the transceiver 20 transmitting,on a corresponding channel via the communication link 15, a codecorresponding to the portable ID code stored in the memory location 17.If block 105 determines that no signal is received on the scannedchannel, control passes to terminal 103, and then to block 104. Itshould be noted that preferably full duplex operation of thetransceivers 18 and 20 is contemplated which enables the simultaneousoperation of the receiver and transmitter portions of the transceivers.Simplex operation of the transceivers is also possible.

After the transmission of the ID code by block 106, which is initiatedby the microprocessor 40 activating the transmitter portion of thetransceiver 20 and providing an ID code corresponding to the code storedin the memory location 17 to the transceiver for transmission, controlpasses to the decision block 107 which determines if a base ID codecorresponding to the portable ID code in location 17 was received by theportable communication unit 12. The identifying of the received base IDcode at the antenna 21 via the communication link 15 corresponds to themicroprocessor 40 investigating the signals received to determine ifthey correspond to the portable ID code stored in the memory location17. If this is not the case, control then passes to the terminal 103since the microprocessor 40 has identified that the base unit which istransmitting to the radio transceiver 20 is not the one for which theportable unit 12 is permitted to communicate with. Under thesecircumstances control passes to the process block 104 which steps thetransceiver 20 to the next sequential channel of the communication link15.

If, via block 107, the microprocessor 40 identifies the received base IDcode as corresponding to the stored ID code in the memory location 17,control effectively passes to a subsequent process block 108 wherein themicroprocessor 40 causes the transceiver 20 to transmit anacknowledgement signal indicating the portable unit has received, viathe link 15, a proper ID code. Control then passes to decision block 109wherein the microprocessor 40 investigates if the base communicationunit 11 has received the portable ID code transmitted by the processblock 106 and has determined that the base is to communicate with theportable communication unit 12. This essentially comprises themicroprocessor 40 determining if the base unit 11 has transmitted anacknowledgement signal via the communication link 15 in response to itsreception of a proper corresponding ID code and if this acknowledgementsignal has been received by the transceiver 20. If no acknowledgement isreceived, again control passes to the terminal 103 and the scanning fora transmission by a proper base unit continues on the next sequentialchannel of link 15.

Once a proper acknowledgement signal from the base unit is received,control passes from block 109 to a process block 110 which results insetting up a full two way communication link between the portable unit12 and the base unit 11. This comprises allowing the free full exchangeof information between the portable and base units via the communicationlink 15 wherein this step may include, as shown dashed in FIG. 2, anadditional process block 111 comprising allowing the duplex radiotransceiver 20 to then access a portable keyboard, a microphone, and/oradditional memory within the portable communication unit 12. Whencommunications between the portable and base units is desired to beterminated, control passes to a process block 112 which terminates thecommunication link 15 upon the request of either the end user of theportable unit 12 or upon the termination of the signal from the baseunit 11, or any of a number of other conditions.

Essentially the flow chart in FIG. 2 is merely representative of knowninformation transfer schemes between coded portable and basecommunication units over a communication link. In such known systems,communication between the portable and base units is initiated only inresponse to circuitry in at least one of the portable or base unitsidentifying the correspondence between the portable and baseidentification codes. After the portable unit identifies thecorrespondence, it transmits an acknowledgement signal to the base unit,and once it receives a similar acknowledgement from the base unit itwill set up a full two way communication link between the portable andbase units since the compatibility of their stored ID codes has beenverified. This operation is substantially identical to known remote(mobile) telephone system. The acknowledgement function between base andportable units is commonly referred to as a "hand shake" and is wellknown in the field of communication systems between base and remotecomputer stations. It is contemplated that the termination of thecommunication link 15 would occur in response to the duplex radiotransceiver 20 receiving a termination command from a base communicationunit 11 which is identified as a termination request by the portablemicroprocessor 40 that monitors the information received by thetransceiver 20, or the elapsing of a predetermined amount of timewithout any information exchange between the portable and base unitsoccurring wherein preferably hand shake acknowledgement signals occurbetween these units periodically to maintain the communication link 15when information exchange is to continue.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart diagraming an information flowsubroutine 200 for the base communication unit 11 similar to thesubroutine 100 shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that subroutine 200corresponds to the base unit searching for a portable initiatedtransmission on link 15. If the base is to initiate communication vialink 15, a different subroutine is executed comprising the base findingan open channel and transmitting an ID code thereon. Then the base unitessentially rejoins the flow chart 200 prior to the decision block 205.

The flow chart 200 is entered at an initializing point 201 and procedesto a summing terminal 202 and from there to a process block 203 whichprovides for sequential scanning of the various channels of thecommunication link 15 for receipt of a portable ID code via thetransceiver antenna 19.

Information flow then passes to a decision block 204 which determines ifa signal is being received on the scanned channel. If not control passesto the terminal 202 which will result in block 203 scanning the nextsequential channel. If a signal is received on the scanned channelcontrol passes to a process block 205 which results in the basecommunication unit 11 transmitting, on the scanned channel, an ID codecorresponding to its base ID code via the commuication link 15. Againscanning operation over 40 channels is contemplated for the base radiotransceiver 18 just as such scanning over 40 channels is contemplatedfor the portable radio transceiver 20. However, the present invention isstill operative even if only one communication channel is provided.

From the process block 205 control passes to the decision block 206where the base microprocessor 22 inquires if a proper ID code has beenreceived by the transceiver 18. If no such proper code has been receivedwhich is compatible with the base ID code stored in the memory location16, then information flow returns to the terminal 202 so that the nextchannel in communication link 15 will be scanned. If the decision block206 determines that a compatible portable ID code has been received,control passes to a process block 207 which transmits an acknowledgementsignal via the communication link 15 and control then proceeds to adecision block 208 which essentially inquires if the portablecommunication unit 12 has transmitted an acknowledgement signal. If nosuch acknowledgement signal is received from the portable communicationunit, again control returns to the terminal 202 and the base unit willcontinue searching for transmissions from a portable unit whose code iscompatible with the base code and which has received and properlyidentified the base communication unit 11 transmitted code.

If the decision block 208 determines that the portable unit hasacknowledged the receipt of a proper code from the base unit, thencontrol passes to the process block 209 which sets up full two waycommunications between the portable and base units. As indicated dashedin FIG. 3 this can include a process block 210 which will now enable theportable unit, via the base unit, to access additional base memorylocations and/or computer apparatus and/or the telephone system network15b. Thus essentially the process block 210 results in the basecommunication unit 11 providing a connection between the portablecommunication unit 12 and the telephone system network 15b wherein thiswill only occur in the event of correspondence between the portable andbase ID codes stored in the memory locations 16 and 17.

Since access to the standard telephone system network 15b is provided byblock 210 via a cordless portable telephone unit 12, of course thepresent system requires security such that access to the telephonesystem network or proprietary memory locations and computer apparatusassociated with the base communication unit 11 is not provided to everyportable communication unit regardless of the code stored in itsportable ID memory location 17. The present embodiment provides a costeffective and desirable way of retaining the security of the system 10by insuring that only portable units which have physically been mated tothe base communication unit 11 will have a predetermined ID code thatwill enable communication between these portable and base units. In FIG.3, after the process block 210, control passes to the process block 21which will implement a termination of the two way communication link 15either upon request of signals by the base unit 11 or the portable unit12 wherein again this could comprise the lack of a periodic hand shakebetween these devices after a predetermined period of time whentypically such a hand shake would occur within this time period due tothe operation of the base and portable microprocessors 22 and 40.

As was noted before in connection with the FIG. 2 flow chart, the FIG. 3flow chart again is merely the flow chart of typical communicationsystems which exist. These flow charts correspond to systems such asportable and remote computers which only permit full exchange ofinformation upon microprocessors in each location identifying that theportable and remote units have identification codes which correspond. Inthis respect it should be noted that while the base and portableidentification codes could be precisely identical, of course a differentcode could be utilized for the base ID code than is utilized for theportable ID code as long as correspondence between these codes isdetermined by the microprocessors. Thus a base ID code corresponding tothe numeral 215, for example, may correspond to a portable ID codecorresponding to the numeral 327, for example, where in thecorrespondence between these codes could be determined by read onlymemory (ROM) decoders which precede digital signal comparators. Itshould also be noted that some of the specific sequence of operationsshown in the flow charts in FIGS. 2 and 3 could be altered and stillobtain a viable communication system.

As was previously noted, the present embodiment comprises acommunication system corresponding to the one shown in FIGS. 1 through 3wherein a unique method is illustrated for providing the portable IDcode located in the memory location 17. FIGS. 4a and 4b togetherillustrate a hybrid base-portable flow chart which describes theoperation of the base and portable communication units upon the matingof the plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45. The left side of FIGS. 4aand 4b illustrate the operation of the base communication unit 11 whilethe right side illustrates the operation of the portable communicationunit 12. Time proceeds from top to bottom in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

Prior to the mating of the plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45,assemblies, it is contemplated that the base and portable units will beimplementing their normal base and portable scanning subroutines 100 and200. At a time t_(o), the housings of the portable and base units aremechanically connected together via the mating of the rigidly attachedplug and socket assemblies 28 and 45. Due to the physical connectionsshown in FIG. 1, this will obviously result in the charging power supplycircuit 25 commencing charging of the portable battery 46. The event ofconnecting the portable to the base unit is indicated at time t_(o) bythe process block 300 in the flow chart in FIG. 4a. From process block300, control passes to the process block 301 wherein the reset circuit29 senses the connection of the plug and socket conductors correspondingto the ID terminals 24' and 42' and provides a reset signal at theterminal 24 to reset the base microprocessor 22. The circuitry whichcomprises the reset circuit 29 is shown in FIG. 5 and this circuitrywill be explained subsequently in connection with the waveforms shown inFIG. 6. The resetting of the base microprocessor 22 interrupts the basescan routine 100 and causes the microprocessor to implement the newinstructions illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

From the process block 301 control passes to the process block 302 whichrepresents the base microprocessor 22 providing at the terminal 42' aportable microprocessor reset signal via the connection of the plug andsocket terminals 24' and 42' of the assemblies 28 and 45. Thiscorresponds to the base microprocessor, upon reset, generating arelatively long low signal output at its ID terminal 24 which istransmitted via the mechanical and electrical connection of the plug andsocket assemblies 28 and 45 to the portable reset circuit 50 thatidentifies this relatively long low output signal and provides a resetsignal at the terminal 41 in response thereto. The sending of the lowreset signal from the base microprocessor to the portable microprocessoron the ID line (across terminals 24' and 42') occurs between the timest₁ through t₂, and the portable microprocessor is reset as indicated bythe process block 303. Also at this time a 100 millisecond delay isprovided by the base microprocessor 22 via a process block 304.

In a manner similar to the implementation of the base microprocessorreset block 301, when the portable microprocessor 40 is reset via theblock 303, execution of the normal portable scan routine 200 isinterrupted and a new set of instructions is executed by the portablemicroprocessor as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. From the portable processblock 303, two separate paths of information flow are indicated in FIG.4a. The solid path directly connects the information flow from theprocess block 303 to a process block 305 which results in the portablemicroprocessor 40 reading the information stored in the portable IDmemory location 17. The solid information path shown between the procesblocks 303 and 305 corresponds to a variation of the present embodimentwherein only when the portable unit 12 is first (initially) mated with abase communication 11 it will learn its code and store this code in theportable ID memory location 17, but upon subsequent mating of theportable unit 12 to any base communication unit no new code will belearned. This is contrasted with the dashed information flow path fromthe process block 303, which indicates an interim dashed process block306 that provides for clearing whatever signals are stored in theportable ID memory location 17. By clearing the memory location 17, anyprior ID code stored in the memory location 17 is erased and is replacedby an invalid ID code (zero) such that the portable communication unit12 will be receptive to reading a new ID code into the memory location17. After the execution of the process block 306 control again passes tothe process block 305 where the portable microprocessor 40 reads the IDcode in the memory location 17.

From the process block 305 control passes to the decision block 307which determines if the read ID memory code in the location 17corresponds to a proper portable ID memory code. If the decision block307 determines that a proper memory code is already contained in thelocation 17, then the normal portable scan routine 200 is reimplemented.If this is not the case, then the information flow for the portablecommunication unit proceeds to a process block 308 in FIG. 4b whereinthe portable microprocessor 40 reads whatever ID code information isthen received on its ID terminal 42 from the base microprocessor 22.

While the portable microprocessor 40 implements the process steps 305through 308, the base microprocessor proceeds from the delay step 304 toa process step 309 that essentially corresponds to reading out the baseID code stored in the memory location 16 and providing a correspondingID code signal for transmission. This ID code signal is then transmittedto the base unit via the process step 310 via the ID connection linebetween the plug and socket assemblies to the ID terminal 42 of theportable microprocessor. The base microprocessor then proceeds fromblock 310 to another delay process block 311 and then on to a subsequentID sending block 312 that corresponds to the block 310. From the processstep 312, control of the base microprocessor then proceeds to the normalbase scan routine 100.

The portable microprocessor, via the process block 308, reads the IDcode received at its terminal 42, and then information flow passes to adecision block 313 which determines if this read ID code corresponds toan allowable portable microprocessor ID code. If so, information flowpasses to a summing terminal 314 and then on to a process block 315 thatstores this proper ID code in the memory location 17. If the decisionblock 313 does not verify that a proper ID code has been received at theterminal 42, control passes to a process block 316 which again attemptsto read the ID code received on the terminal 42. This second time, theread ID code will correspond to the code sent for the second time by thebase process block 312. Control from the process block 316 passes to thedecision block 317 wherein if now a proper ID has been received by themicroprocessor 40, control will pass to the terminal 314 to store thisproper code in the portable ID memory location 17 via block 315. If thedecision block 317 again does not identify the received ID code as aproper code, control passes to the normal portable scan subroutine 200.If desired, instead of control passing to the subroutine 200, controlcould pass to a halt mode process block which prevents any normalportable scanning operation via the link 15 until a proper code is readinto and stored in the portable unit. From the process block 315, theportable microprocessor proceeds to read the ID code just stored in theportable memory ID location 17 via a process block 318. Control thenpasses to a decision block 319 by which the microprocessor 40 determinesif this read ID code from the location 17 is a proper portable ID code.If not, control will pass to the normal portable scan subroutine 200. Ifthe read portable ID is a proper ID code, control passes from thedecision block 319 to a process block 320 which results in thetransceiver 20 generating an alert tone via the speaker 22 to indicatethe proper entry of an ID code into the portable ID memory location 17.Then control passes to the normal portable scan subroutine 200.

The flow charts in FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate that in response to themechanical connection of the portable and base communication units, thebase microprocessor 22 is reset resulting in the sequential resetting ofthe portable microprocessor 40 and the attempted transmission of IDcodes to the portable microprocessor via the ID connection line of theplug and socket assemblies 28 and 45. If the portable microprocessor 40determines, via the decision block 307, that the portable communicationunit should be reprogramed to a new portable ID code, then the codetransmitted by the base microprocessor will be loaded into the portableID code memory location 17 and an audible alert tone generatedindicating the proper transfer of code to the portable communicationunit. Then the base and portable communication units resume theirscanning subroutines which result in full two way communications beingenabled between the portable and base units when proper codecorrespondence of the codes stored in the base and portable units isdetermine by the microprocessors 22 and 40. Upon the establishment ofproper communications via the wireless communication link 15, theportable communication unit 12 can access the telephone system network15b via the communication link 15 and the base communication unit 11,whereas without the portable and base units having corresponding codessuch access is prohibited.

Each of the blocks in the flow chart in FIGS. 4a and 4b can be readilyimplemented by standard programming of microprocessors and/or byconventional digital and analog circuits. Sending codes comprises merelyrecalling stored digital signals, and verifying if codes are proper ornot merely comprises signal comparison with predetermined limits. Thuseach individual block in FIGS. 4a and 4b can be readily implemented by acomputer or by discrete circuitry.

It should be noted that essentially the present embodiment initiates theportable communication unit learning its code in response to apredetermined mechanical coupling connection being provided between theportable and base communication units. This mechanical connectioncomprises the selective mating together of plug and socket assembliesassociated with the portable and base communication units, respectively,and providing said mechanical coupling by electrically interconnectingcircuits between the base and portable units. The present embodimentprovides for these plug and socket assemblies to include electricalcontacts which provide an operative connection between a batterycharging means in the base unit and a battery in the portable unit whichsupplies operative power to the portable unit at least when the portableunit housing is separated from the base unit housing. The plug andsocket assemblies provide a direct mechanical connection comprising anelectrical conductor path between the portable and base units over whichthe base communication unit 11 transmits an ID code to the portablecommunication unit 12, and according the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 theelectrical path provided by this electrical conductor is separate fromthe battery charging electrical contacts which are included in the plugand socket assemblies 28 and 45.

Of course other configurations for transmitting the ID code from thebase microprocessor to the portable microprocessor are possible. Onesuch technique could comprise transmitting the ID code to be read intothe portable microprocessor memory location 17 by having the the basecommunication unit 11 sending this code over the wireless communicationlink 15. However, requiring a direct mechanical connection between thebase and portable communication units not only as a prerequisite topermit the portable unit to learn its code from the base unit but alsofor providing a mechanical code transmission path provides a more securecommunication system. This is because the portable unit can only learnits ID code from the base unit by being physically connected thereto,thus eliminating the possibility of portable units which have not beenphysically mated to the base unit learning the predetermined portable IDcode which will enable them to establish a communication link with theunit.

It should be noted that the present embodiment, via the solid connectionbetween the process blocks 303 and 305 and the decision block 307includes apparatus which prevents the portable communication unit fromlearning and storing a portable ID code sent by the base in response tothe portable unit determining that the portable ID memory location 17already has stored therein, prior to the mating of the assemblies 28 and45, a proper portable ID code which will enable the portable unit toestablish desired two way communications with a corresponding base unitvia the communication link 15. Of course if the alternative process pathincluding the process block 306 is utilized, then after each reset ofthe portable microprocessor 40 the portable ID memory location 17 willbe permitted to accept received ID information sent to it from the basemicroprocessor via the ID terminals 24' and 42' of the plug and socketassemblies 28 and 45.

Refering to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram is shown which illustratespreferred configurations for the base and portable reset circuits 29 and50. In FIG. 5 identical reference numerals are utilized to indicate thecorrespondence of elements in FIG. 5 with the elements in FIG. 1. Itshould be noted that the reset circuit 29, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, isconnected between the base microprocessor ID terminal 24 and the basemicroprocessor reset terminal 23, while the portable reset circuit 50 isconnected between the portable ID terminal 42 and the reset terminal 41.This is significant in that the reset circuits 29 and 50 work off of thesame signal line used to transmit the ID code to the portable unit. Thiseliminates the need for additional reset lines forming separate plug andsocket conductors since the reset information is sent on the same IDconductor path used for transmitting the ID code. Thus the resetcircuits 29 and 50 distinguish between the transmitted ID code and thereset pulses for the base and portable microprocessors.

Preferably the present invention utilizes the reset circuits shown inFIG. 5 rather than having the base microprocessor 22 receive a resetpulse from a separate conductor path including an external plug terminalseparate from terminals 24', 26' and 27' and then having the basemicroprocessor 22 provide a reset signal to the portable microprocessor40 via an additional conductor path provided by the plug and socketassemblies. While each of these configurations is possible, theembodiment in FIG. 5 saves providing additional conductor paths in theplug and socket assemblies and therefore lowers the cost of the systemand increases its reliability since fewer external plug in connectionswill have to be made.

The ID terminal 24 in FIG. 5 is connected to a control terminal 400 of acontrollable series pass gate 401 that has one through input terminalconnected to ground potential and the other through input terminalconnected to a terminal 402. Series pass gates essentially respond tocontrol voltages at their control terminal to either provide a directconnection between their series pass terminals or an open circuitconnection between their series pass terminals. Such gates are wellknown. The terminal 402 is coupled to the base reset terminal 23 througha 1 microfarad capacitor 403 and is coupled to the B+ terminal 26through a 560K (kilo) ohm resistor 404. The B+ terminal 26 is alsoconnected to the reset terminal 23 through a 10K ohm resistor 405. Themagnitude of the resistor 30 coupled between the base ID terminal 24 andterminal 27' in FIG. 5 is 82K ohms.

In FIG. 5 the reset circuit 50 is illustrated as comprising acontrollable gate series pass 410 having its control terminal 411directly connected to the portable microprocessor ID terminal 42 as wellas one of its series input terminals. The other series terminal of thegate 410 is directly connected to the portable microprocessor resetterminal 41. The reset terminal 41 is connected to ground by theparallel combination of a 0.1 microfarad capacitor 412 and a 560K ohmresistor 413. The magnitude of the resistor 49 in FIG. 5 is 15K ohms.

The operation of the reset circuits 29 and 50 will now be discussed withrespect to the waveforms shown in FIG. 6 which represent various signalsproduced by the circuitry in FIG. 5. This will illustrate how the resetcircuits distinguish between reset pulses and ID code information whichis provided on the conductor path between the ID terminals 24 and 42.

In FIG. 6, the signal waveform A is representative of the signal at thebase ID terminal 24 and illustrates that prior to the time t₀, duringwhich time the plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45 are disconnected,the voltage level at this terminal is ground due to the connection ofthe resistor 30. At the time t₀, the plug and socket assemblies 28 and45 are mated and this results in a positive step occurring for thesignal A due to the effect of the pull up resistor 49 which is connectedto the positive portable battery voltage terminal 43' and which, aftermating of the assemblies 28 and 45 is also connected to the B+ terminal26 of the base communication unit. The magnitude of the resistors 49 and30 result in the signal A having a magnitude of almost B+ after the timet₀.

The other signal waveforms shown in FIG. 6 correspond as follows to thesignals provided by the circuitry in FIG. 5. The waveform B representsthe signal at the portable ID terminal 42, the waveform C represents thesignal at the portable reset terminal 41, the waveform D represents thesignal at terminal 402 in the reset circuit 29, and the waveform Erepresents the signal at the base reset terminal 23. In FIG. 6 thevertical axes are magnitude, and the horizontal axes are time and areall shown with the same time scale.

The operation of the circuit in FIG. 5 is as follows. In response to thestep increase in the signal A at the base ID terminal 24 at the time t₀that the plug and socket assemblies are mated, a negative impulse isprovided in the signal E at the base reset terminal 23 due to the gate401 being turned on. The magnitude of the negative impulse is equal tothe magnitude of positive voltage which previously existed at terminal23. Assuming that a predetermined minimum time existed prior to t₀during which a low signal was at terminal 24 (terminal 400), the voltageat terminal 23 would be the B+ voltage at terminal 26, and this createsa negative impulse having a magnitude equal to B+. This impulse exceedsthe reset threshold level 420 shown in FIG. 6 and results in resettingthe base microprocessor 22. Subsequently the voltage at the base resetterminal is returned to zero by the relatively rapid charging of thecapacitor 403 by the resistor 405. At the time t₀ the signal B at theportable ID terminal 42 undergoes a slight downward shift in potentialdue to the voltage dividing effect of the resistors 49 and 30. Sincethis voltage shift is slight, there is no substantial change in thevoltage at the portable reset terminal 41 since the gate 410, which waspreviously on, will remain on.

At a subsequent time t₁, the base microprocessor will respond to beingreset by providing a low voltage signal pulse on the signal A at thebase ID terminal. This pulse will overide any DC bias provided by theresistors 49 and 30 such that the signal A stays low for a 200millisecond (MS) period until the time t₂. During this time of coursethe voltage at the portable ID terminal 42 (signal B) tracks the voltageat the base ID terminal (signal A), and such will be the case as long asthe plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45 are connected. Also during thistime the series gate 410 of the portable reset circuit 50 is now openedthereby permitting the voltage at the terminal 41 (signal C) todischarge through the slow time constant provided by the resistor 413and the capacitor 412. Previously the gate 410 was open and therebydirectly connected the high voltage at the terminal 42' to the resetterminal 41. As the voltage at the terminal 41 decreases eventually thesignal C will fall below a reset threshold level 421 at which time theportable microprocessor 40 will be reset. This occurs somewhere betweenthe times t₁ and t₂.

It should be noted that during the time duration t₁ through t₂, the gate401 in the reset circuit 29 is open, but this does not result in anyappreciable change in the signal voltage D at the terminal 402 sincethis results in the charging of the one microfarad capacitor 403 throughthe 560K resistor 404 which results in a negligable increase in thevoltage of the terminal 402 due to the relatively slow time constant ofthese charging elements. This is significant since at the time t₂ thebase microprocessor 22 puts out a high pulse in signal A for arelatively short duration between the times t₂ and t₃. This high outputresults in turning the gate 401 on, but only a minor shift in the basereset voltage (signal E) is now provided since only a small amount ofcharging of the capacitor 403 occurred during the times t₁ through t₂.Thus during the times t₁ to t₂, the voltage at terminal 24 has notremained low for a sufficient minimum time duration such that inresponse to the next positive signal transition an impulse at terminal23 would exceed the reset threshold 420. The same is true during thedata transmission which occurs from t₃ to t₄.

At a subsequent time t₃, the base microprocessor stops putting out ahigh output and then provides a string of data comprising short durationsyncronizing bits and data bits by which a specific ID code is outputtedby the base microprocessor to the ID input terminal 42 of the portablemicroprocessor. In this manner the base microprocessor sends to theportable microprocessor a desired ID code for reading by themicroprocessor 40 and eventual storage in the portable ID memorylocation 17. It contemplated that the high-low and low-high transitionsof voltage levels which comprise the data sent between the time t₃ and asubsequent end of data time t₄ occur sufficiently rapidly such that noappreciable voltage is allowed to accumulate at the terminal 402, sinceotherwise when the base ID terminal would return to a high voltage levelan additional reset of the base microprocessor might occur. During thetimes t₃ to t₄ the base microprocessor will output an ID code twice asper the flow chart in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

After the time t₄, the base microprocessor ID terminal 24 is opencircuited resulting in a constant high voltage at this terminal due toresistor 49 and this voltage is maintained until a subsequent time t₅ atwhich time it is assumed that the plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45are disconnected. Upon the disconnection of these assemblies, thesignals A-E in FIG. 6 change as shown wherein after a substantial timeduration of two seconds, represented by the times t₅ through t₆, thevoltage at the terminal 402 (signal D) has now achieved a valuecomparable to the B+ voltage such that upon subsequent turning on of thegate 401 the base microprocessor 22 will be reset by the occurrence of anegative impulse of sufficient magnitude at the reset terminal 23 of themicroprocessor 22.

Essentially the reset circuit 29 corresponds to reset circuitry which iscoupled between the base ID information line and the microprocessorreset terminal for providing a reset pulse to the microprocessor inresponse to an initial predetermined signal transistion on themechanical ID information line (the connection between terminals 24 and42) while ignoring sequential substantially identical signal transitionswhich occur on the ID line during the subsequent transmission of datainformation. This is accomplished by having the reset circuitry ignorethese subsequent signal transitions unless they are preceded by theexistence of a predetermined voltage level (low voltage) on theinformation line which exists for a duration which is substantiallylonger than the time durations which precede similar transitions duringthe transmission of said data during which time said predeterminedvoltage level exists.

The matable plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45 together comprise amatable connector assembly that couples the base microprocessor 22 tothe portable microprocessor 40 by providing coupling between the baseand portable ID terminals 24 and 42 and provides said initial signaltransition at t₀ on an ID line in response to the initial coupling ofsaid base and portable ID terminals. The reset circuit 29 morespecifically includes a capacitor 403 and a long time constant chargingresistance 404 which together provide said base microprocessor resetpulse in response to pulse transitions on the ID line similar to saidinitial pulse transistion whenever they are preceded by a substantiallylong time duration during which the voltage level on the ID line ismaintained at a predetermined level. Subsequently during datatransmission on said ID line, the voltage level on the ID line isprevented from existing for this substantially long time duration whilesimilar signal transitions are provided for data transmission.

The reset circuit 29 also includes a short time constant chargingresistance comprising the 10K resistor 405 for essentially terminatingsaid reset pulse prior to transmission of data on the ID line. The resetcircuit 29 utilizes the resistor 30 which provides said predeterminedsignal level for said substantially long time duration until the matingof the plug and socket assemblies 28 and 45. Thus resistor 30 can beconsidered part of the reset circuit 29.

The reset circuit 50 is characterized by a resistor-capacitor networkwhich provides a portable reset pulse in response to a received signalon the ID line comprising a predetermined voltage level which exists forat least a minimum time duration. This voltage level is followed by datawherein during the transmission of said data on said ID line similarvoltage levels are only provided with durations which are substantiallyshorter thus preventing the data from causing additional resetting ofthe portable microprocessor 40.

It should be noted that while a specific embodiment of the presentinvention is described herein, many variations of this embodiment mayexist which still embrace the basic principles disclosed herein.Obviously while the present invention relies on the mechanicalconnection of the base and portable ID lines to provide the reset pulseto the base microprocessor which in turn provides a reset pulse to theportable microprocessor, other techniques for initiating the resettingof the base microprocessor can be utilized. In addition, while thepresent invention comprises sending ID information over the mechanicalID line to the portable microprocessor such that the portablecommunication unit will learn its ID code, other paths for thetransmission of this ID information could be utilized including thewireless communication link 15. While I have shown and describedspecific embodiments of this invention, further modifications andimprovements will occur to those skilled in the art. All suchmodifications which retain the basic underlying principles disclosed andclaimed herein are within the scope of this invention.

I claim:
 1. A communication system comprising;at least one base unithaving a housing and a predetermined associated base ID (identification)code stored therein, and at least one portable unit having a housingseparable from said base unit housing and having an associated portableID code storable therin, said base and portable units capable ofestablishing desired information communication therebetween on acommunication link in response to circuitry in at least one of the baseand portable units determining that the base and portable ID codesstored in the base and portable units, respectively, have the propercorrespondence to one another, the portable unit including thereinlearning and storing means for learning said associated portable ID codefrom said base unit in response to a predetermined connection beingprovided between said portable and base units, said portable unitlearning and storing means storing said learned portable ID code in saidportable unit, said base unit including therein code transmitting meansfor transmitting to said portable unit learning and storing means, inresponse to providing said predetermined connection, code information,determined by said stored base ID code which was stored in said baseunit prior to said predetermined connection, which determines saidlearned and stored portable ID code, said learned and stored portable IDcode and said stored base ID code having proper correspondence to oneanother to permit said desired communication on said communication link.2. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein saidpredetermined connection between said portable and base units whichresults in said portable unit learning its ID code from said base unitcomprises mechanically coupling said portable unit to said base unit. 3.A communication system according to claim 2 wherein said portable andbase units have respective associated plug and socket assemblies whichare selectively matable together for providing said mechanical couplingby directly electrically interconnecting circuits between said base andportable units.
 4. A communication system according to claim 3 whereinsaid plug and socket assemblies include electrical contacts whichprovide an operative connection between a battery charging means withinsaid base unit and a battery within said portable unit, wherein saidportable battery provides operative power to said portable unit at leastwhen said portable unit housing is separated from said base unit housingand said plug and socket assemblies are separated.
 5. A communicationsystem according to claim 4 wherein said plug and socket assembliesprovide a direct mechanical connection between said base and portableunits comprising an electrical conductor path over which said base unittransmits code signals to said portable unit corresponding to saidportable ID code.
 6. A communication system according to claim 5 whereinsaid electrical conductor path comprises at least one electrical signalpath which is separate from said battery charging electrical contacts.7. A communication system according to claim 5 wherein one of said plugand socket assemblies is rigidly coupled to the housing of said baseunit while the other is rigidly coupled to the housing of said portableunit, thus providing for mechanically coupling the housings of said baseand portable units at the same time said plug and socket assemblies aremated.
 8. A communication system according to claim 7 wherein saidcommunication link comprises a wireless communication link between saidportable and base units.
 9. A communication system according to claim 8wherein said communication link is operative when said plug and socketassemblies are mated and when said plug and socket assemblies areseparated.
 10. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein saidcommunication link is a wireless communication link between saidportable and base units.
 11. A communication system according to claim10 wherein each of said portable and base units includes radiotransmitter and receiver circuitry for establishing said wirelesscommunication link.
 12. A communication system according to claim 11wherein each of said portable and base units includes a microprocessorfor controlling the operation of said radio circuitry and determiningthe correspondence of said portable and base ID codes prior to enablingsaid desired information communication between said portable and baseunits.
 13. A communication system according to claim 1 wherein saidportable unit means for learning and storing said portable ID codes sentby said base unit is activated each time said predetermined connectionbetween said portable and base units is provided.
 14. A communicationsystem according to claim 13 wherein said communication link is awireless communication link between said portable and base units.
 15. Acommunication system according to claim 14 wherein said predeterminedconnection between said portable and base units which results inportable unit learning its ID code from said base unit comprisesmechanically coupling said base unit to said portable unit and whereinsaid base unit transmits said ID code to the learning and storing meansof said portable unit via a connection other than said communicationlink.
 16. A communication system according to claim 15 wherein saidconnection for said base transmitting said ID code to said portable unitlearning and storing means comprises a mechanical coupling whichelectrically connects circuits in said base and portable units.
 17. Acommunication system according to claim 16 wherein each of said base andportable units comprise a microprocessor and said connection fortransmitting said portable ID code from said base to said portable unitlearning and storing means comprises a mechanical connectionelectrically connecting said base and portable microprocessors.
 18. Acommunication system comprising;at least one base unit having a housingand a predetermined associated base ID (identification) code storedstored herein, and at least one portable unit having a housing separablefrom said base unit housing and having an associated portable ID codestorable therein, said base and portable units capable of establishingdesires information communication therebetween on a communication linkin response to circuitry in at least one of the base and portable unitsdetermining that the base and portable ID codes have the propercorrespondence to one another, the portable unit including thereinlearning and storing means for learning said associated portable ID codefrom said base unit in response to a predetermined connection beingprovided between said portable and base units, said portable unitlearning and storing means storing said learned portable ID code in saidportable unit, said learned and stored portable ID code being determinedby said stored base ID code which was stored in said base unit prior tosaid predetermined connection, wherein said portable unit includes meansfor preventing actuation of said portable means for learning and storinga portable code sent by said base unit in response to determining that aproper portable ID code is already stored in said portable unit, priorto said predetermined connection, which will enable the portable unit toestablish said information communication via said communication linkwith a corresponding base unit.
 19. A communication system according toclaim 18 wherein said communication link between said portable and baseunits is a wireless communication link.
 20. A communication systemaccording to claim 19 wherein said predetermined connection between saidportable and base units which results in said portable learning its IDcode comprises mechanically coupling said portable unit to said baseunit and wherein said ID code is sent by said base unit to said portableunit learning and storing means on a connection therebetween other thansaid communication link.
 21. A communication system according to claim 1wherein said portable unit includes memory means for storing electricalsignals representative of said portable ID code.
 22. A communicationsystem comprising;at least one base unit having a housing and apredetermined associated base ID (identification) code stored storedtherein, and at least one portable unit having a housing separable fromsaid base unit housing and having an associated portable ID codestorable therein, said base and portable units capable of establishingdesired information communication therebetween on a communication linkin response to circuitry in at least one of the base and portable unitsdetermining that the base and portable ID codes have the propercorrespondence to one another, the portable unit including thereinlearning and storing means for learning said associated portable ID codefrom base unit in response to a predetermined connection being providedbetween said portable and base units, said portable unit learning andstoring means storing said learned portable ID code in said portableunit, said learned and stored portable ID code being determined by saidstored base ID code which was stored in said base unit prior to saidpredetermined connection, wherein said portable unit includes memouymeans for storing electrical signals representative of said portable IDcode, and wherein said portable unit includes a microprocessor fordetermining if said memory means already, prior to said predeterminedconnection, contains a proper portable ID code which will enable theportable unit to establish said desired information communication viasaid communication link with a corresponding base unit.
 23. Acommunication system according to claim 22 wherein said portable unitincludes means for preventing actuation of said portable means forlearning and storing a portable ID code sent by said base unit inresponse to determining that the signals stored in said memory meansalready, prior to said predetermined connection between said portableand base units, correspond to a proper portable code which will enablethe portable unit to establish said desired information communicationvia said communication link with a corresponding base unit.
 24. Acommunication system according to claim 1 wherein said communicationcomprises a wireless communication link, and wherein said predeterminedconnection comprises a mechanical connection between said portable andbase units which electrically connects circuits between said portableand base units, and wherein said desired information communicationbetween said base and portable units comprises said base unit permittingaccess by said portable unit, via said wireless communication link, toproprietary circuitry assiciated with said base communication unitwherein access to said proprietary circuitry by said portable unit viasaid communication link is inhibited unless said base and portable IDcodes have been determined as having the proper correspondence to oneanother.
 25. A communication system according to claim 24 wherein saidproprietary base unit associated circuitry comprises a telephone systemnetwork coupled to said base unit.
 26. A communication system accordingto claim 1 wherein said desired communication comprises two-waycommunication between said base and portable units over saidcommunication link, which communication is permitted in response to saidstored base and stored portable ID codes having proper correspondence,each of said base and portable units including transmitter and receiverportions for providing said desired communication over saidcommunication link.
 27. A communication system comprising;at least onebase unit having a housing and a predetermined associated base ID(identification) code stored therein, and at least one portable unithaving a housing separable from said base unit housing and having anassociated portable ID code storable therein, said base and portableunits capable of establishing desired information communicationtherebetween on a communication link in response to circuitry in atleast one of the base and portable units determining that the base andportable ID codes stored in the base and portable units, respectively,have the proper correspondence to one another, the portable unitincluding therein learning and storing means for automatically learningsaid associated portable ID code form said base unit in response to justa predetermined connection being provided between said portable and baseunits, said portable unit learning and storing means storing saidlearned portable ID code in said portable unit, said base unit includingtherein code transmitting means for transmitting to said portable unitlearning and storing means, automatically in response to just providingsaid predetermined connection, code information, determined by saidstored base ID code which was stored in said base prior to saidpredetermined connection, which determines said learned and storedportable ID code, said learned and stored portable ID code and saidstored base ID code having proper correspondence to one another topermit said desired communication on said communication link.
 28. Acommunication system according to claim 27 wherein said predeterminedconnection between said portable and base units which results in saidportable unit learning its ID code from said base unit comprisesmechanically coupling said portable unit to said base unit.
 29. Acommunication system according to claim 28 wherein said portable andbase units habe respective associated plug and socket assemblies whichare selectively matable together for providing said mechanical couplingby directly electrically interconnection circuits between said base andportable units.
 30. A communication system according to claim 29 whereinsaid plug and socket assemblies include electrical contacts whichprovide an operative connection between a battery charging means withinsaid base unit and a battery within said portable unit, wherein saidportable battery provides operative power to said portable unit at leastwhen said portable unit housing is separated from said base unit housingans said plug and socket assemblies are separated.
 31. A communicationsystem according to claim 30 wherein said plug and socket assembliesprovide a direct mechanical connection between said base and portableunits comprising an electrical conductor path over which said base unittransmits code signals to said portable unit corresponding to saidportable ID code.
 32. A communication system according to claim 31wherein said electrical conductor path comprises at least one electricalsignal path which is separate from said battery charging electricalcontacts.
 33. A communication system acording to claim 31 wherein one ofsaid plug and socket assemblies is rigidly couples to the housing ofsaid base unit while the other is rigidly coupled to the housing of saidportable unit, thus providing for mechanically coupling the housings ofsaid base and portable units at the same time said plug and socketassemblies are mated.
 34. A communication system according to claim 33wherein said communication link comprises a wireless communication linkbetween said portable and base units.
 35. A communication systemaccording to claim 34 wherein said communication link is operative whensaid plug and socket assemblies are mated and when said plug and socketassemblies are separated.
 36. A communication system according to claim27 wherein said portable unit means for learning and storing saidportable ID codes sent by said base unit is activated each time saidpredetermined connection between said portable and base units isprovided.